Many of the bios I write, or review, are for About Pages, therefore I wanted to share some of what Neil had to say that is relevant to writing a great bio for your own About Page or online profile.

For instance:

Don't write just about yourself.Your About Page doesn’t have to focus completely on you. Sure, it can include your personal story, but it’s wise to focus on how you solve a problem for your readers.

Use a headline.Every pages needs a headline, and your About Page is no exception. Make it clear, simple and descriptive of what you do. For example, my About Page headline is: Learn more about Jill Townsend, and why she loves writing bios!

Use a photo.Usually of yourself, but it could also be a logo or relevant image.

Tell your story.As well as telling people what you do, tell them how you got to where you are, warts and all. People love stories about other people. Don't overpraise or be overly critical.

Include a call to action.Where do people go after they read your About Page? Don't leave this to chance, guide them with a call to action. This could be an opt-in form, a link to your blog, or something else, Just make sure it provides value to your readers.

Consider color and font choice.Some colors and some fonts are more reader-friendly than others. Keep that in mind and go for simple over complex.

Use a conversational tone.About Pages are not resumes, and should not read like them. As Neil says, "You want your About Page to build a connection with your target audience and influence their decision-making process. A great way to do that is by using a conversational tone and evoking emotion with the words you choose."

There's lots more good information in Neil's article, but just remembering these few will go a long way toward ensuring your About page or bio is as effective and professional as you want it to be.

I came across this article today and wanted to share. In the course of writing bios I often am asked to review someone's resume as well. Often the resume comes with the issues identified in item #2 in this article: Your resume is too broad:

"So you worked at a deli in high school, did telemarketing in college and had a brief stint at your brother-in-law’s marketing firm. And maybe there are some gaps between jobs.This resume simply isn’t appealing. While you likely learned useful skills at each position, your resume doesn’t tell a story -- it doesn't reflect that you've been working consistently toward finding a job like the one you're currently applying to. Your resume is a lot like a first date: It has to make a great first impression and it has to make your date (the future employer) think you’ve got lots of qualities in common."

I recommend reading #5 as well, which is related: Your job is no longer relevant.

I came across this blog post recently, and want to thank my colleague in the dental industry, Fred Joyal, for writing it, and letting me share it here. It caught my eye because one of the most common issues I come across when I am writing or reviewing a bio, is the subject's tendency to want to say too much.

Bios are intended to be snapshots, 4-5 paragraphs at most. They should give the reader a good idea of who you are as a person or businessperson, with your career highlights and accomplishments included, but concisely. There is no room, nor should there be, to list everything you've ever done.

Resumes are no different. I recommend that work history go back only 10 years, 15 at the most. And keep your bulleted lists brief as well, 4-5 per job, not the 10, 20, even 30 I often see.

The fine art of shutting up is as important in your written communication as it is in your verbal communication, as Fred so aptly explains, below.

One of the key lessons that every salesperson learns is when to stop talking. The reason I bring this up in a dental blog is because, in case you hadn’t noticed, successful dentistry involves effective communication in order to facilitate treatment acceptance. (Put another way, selling.) Human nature is what it is, and human behavior is often quite predictable. If you’re trying to convince someone to do something that will benefit them, but they don’t understand the value, then they need to be sold on the idea. Click here to read Fred's entire article.